the president fed off of that energy especially even as the cold air here, i know you're outside, so it's cold. you know that feeling here. the president obviously speaking more energized there, i would assume, we'll hear a more energized president and refine his rebuttals yet again in a couple of hours. >> chuck todd, safe travels. thanks so much for the report. and still with us, john harris and ruth marcus. ruth, first to you, because you saw the performance last night and it had all of the feel of an incumbent president who has not been challenged who has been in the oval office, who didn't do enough debate preparation or maybe they weren't tough enough with him. >> well, i think one other thing might have been going on, which is that his goal was not to do himself any harm, maybe hi did himself harm by not being sharp enough. there was also, i think, some folks in the campaign believe this, a danger on the other end. this president does not do pit bull very well. remember, you're likable enough, hillary. he didn't want to come off as annoying, arrogant, dismissive, towards romne